STEAM-DRIVEN 'PLANE

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 90, 17 April 1934, Page 7

STEAM-DRIVEN 'PLANE

German Inventor's Claims for Novel Aircraft. HOP TO JAPAN IN 60 HOURS. BERLIN, April 16. An engineer, Herr Huettner, has drafted plans for a steam-driven aeroplane 65ft long, with a wing-spread of 100 ft, with a boiler heated by oil gas. It is expected to have a cruising speed of 240 miles an hour, with a maximum of 270. It is claimed to be capable of reaching a height of 27,000 ft.

Tho inventor hopes to fly in one hop, with a ton load, from Germany to Japan in 00 hours, or from Germany to San Francisco, Capetown, Ilio de Janeiro or Singapore.

It is claimed that Herr Huettner has solved the problem of satisfactory ratio of weight to power. Hitherto steamengined aeroplanes have broken down owing to their great weight. Herr Huettner's solution consists of a revolving boiler combined with a steam turbine. If successful the scheme will be applicable to motor cars.

VISIT TO MELBOURNE. MASTER OF SEMPILL'S PLANS. (Received 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, April 10. The Master of Sempill, piloting . his own Puss Moth, intends to fly to Melbourne in time for the Centenary. MELBOURNE RACE. MAY BE 30 COMPETITORS. LONDON, April 12. Though the extent of American participation in the air race is uncertain. "Whirlwind" Wright Company's reported intention to place teams of mechanics at the checking points to assist competitors using "Whirlwind" Wright engines indicates that it may be large. Potential British competitors are reticent because they do not desire their rivals to know their plans, but the "open" field will probably be at least 30. American machines will probably exceed the British in horse-power and range, and may lead to Karachi, whereafter it would not be surprising if they lost ground owing to nicclianical troubles. There may be some protest against American machines on the question of airworthiness as prescribed by the international convention to which the United States is not a signatory. INITIAL FLIGHT. SYDNEY TO NEW GUINEA. SYDNEY, April IG. The first flight from New Guinea to Sydney was completed in three and a half days. Mr. Sydney Marshall, aged 32, who is attached to New Guinea Airways, left Lae on Wednesday and Port Moresby on Thursday, arriving at Svdnev Testerdav.